Some Organizations May Not Benefit From Increased Funding for Organizations Serving Survivors of Domestic Violence

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 -- 11:01 AM

(Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio) Earlier this month, state lawmakers passed legislation providing increased funding for organizations serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

According to Hope Kirwan with Wisconsin Public Radio, the legislation provides $10 million for grants. The measure is a temporary fix for an expected decline in federal funding that will hit in October. But organizations serving marginalized communities say the plan may not help them.

Federal grants under the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, are funded through federal fines and fees paid by people convicted of a crime. But the federal fund has been shrinking over the last several years, with Wisconsin’s annual funding expected to go from $44.5 million to roughly $13 million.

Nadya Rosen, managing attorney for Disability Rights Wisconsin’s victim advocacy program, said her organization first applied for a VOCA grant in 2016. She said the money has allowed the organization to serve many types of crime victims.

“That would mean people whose identity was stolen, or who maybe had a caregiver who misused their funds, or who was neglected or physically harmed by a care provider,” Rosen said. “We really felt that it was a great idea, because people with disabilities are uniquely vulnerable to crime, that we had a more expansive project.”

Rosen said they provide some traditional kinds of victim services work, like helping someone understand the criminal justice process or working with law enforcement who are investigating cases.

But her organization also has programming specific to people with disabilities, like making sure an assault survivor who needs transportation services can get a female driver.

She said Disability Rights Wisconsin was excited to see the state Legislature approve a bill to provide an additional $6.4 million in grants for sexual assault victim services and an additional $2.4 million in grants for domestic abuse victims in the current biennial budget.

The bill was sent to Gov. Tony Evers last week for a signature. But Rosen said her group does not meet the requirements for these grant programs, which include providing support groups or offering a crisis telephone line.

“I’m quite nervous about where that leaves programs like mine, that fit a real need, but do not have the capacity to do all of the services that are required for those grants,” she said.

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